Princes William and Harry muck in to help flood victims as UK is battered by the weather

WADING IN: Harry throws William a sandbag as they do their bit to help fl ood victims in Datchet [GETTY]

The royal brothers mucked in with Army pals from the Household Cavalry.

The pair were up at 6am wading through knee-high water as they helped unload sand bags from military trucks.

It was part of a bid to shore up defences as battered Britain faced another hammering from a triple-pronged attack of rain, gales and snow.

Torrential downpours and 80mph winds ripped through the south coast while parts of the north were hit by blizzards.

The weather even sparked a fire as power lines triggered a blaze in Borth, Dyfed.

And there was tragedy as Ben Thomas, 77, was killed by a falling tree in Caernarfon, Gwynedd.

It came as emergency services mounted their largest rescue operation since the Blitz.

The Government’s chief fire and rescue adviser Peter Holland said 70% of the fire and rescue services in England and Wales were in action, the largest deployment since the Second World War.

SAND TOGETHER: The royal brothers are up to their knees in water as they muck in and help the Household Cavalry [GETTY]

“They joined the Household Cavalry this morning from 6am and they have been helping to build walls of sandbags”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman

More than 2,200 soldiers, sailors and RAF personnel also helped communities battle the rising waters.

Royal aides said Wills, 31, and Harry, 29, were desperate to lend a hand and helped in the village of Datchet, Berks.

One said: “They were very keen to help with the flood relief effort and thought that joining the military would be the best way.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: “They joined the Household Cavalry this morning from 6am and they have been helping to build walls of sandbags.”

Even the Queen has been showing her support by providing Somerset farmers with feed and bedding for their livestock during the crisis.

But while the royals got stuck in, Environment Agency boss Chris Smith stayed at home as he faced growing calls to quit.And anger grew yesterday as the GMB said environment bosses intended to resume plans to axe 1,700 jobs after the crisis is over.

The GMB said: “Have government learned nothing from the current floods?”

HERE COMES THE CAVALRY: Prince Harry is soaked as he carries a bag of sand before joking with Army pals [GETTY]

There were 23 severe flood warnings in place last night and about 55,000 homes remained without power.

David Cameron revealed he was “very sorry” for those whose homes lie in ruins. Visiting Blackpool, the PM said: “People need to be reassured that we will do whatever it takes to help people.”

president of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso last night denied that EU regulations contributed to the flood crisis.

It came after Ukip leader Nigel Farage said EU rules made it harder to dredge rivers.